Golf practice set



1929. c. E. THRASHER ETAL 1,730,176

. GOLF PRACTICE SET Filed July 2, 1928 INVENTORS 72g ATTORNEY Patented.Oct. 1, 1929 GOLF PRACTICE snr Application filed July 2, 1928; SerialNo. 289,769.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in golf practicesets.

It is one of the principal objects of our invention to provide for thosepersons who desire to practice the game of golf, a set or unitcomprising a pin to which a golf ball is revolvably and resilientlysecured by a spring and chain mechanism. The pin is adapted to befixedly secured in the ground so that when the ball is hit, its flightwill be limited by the length of the chain.

If the ball is hit by a straight shot of the club, it will spin aroundthe pin several times; if it is sliced it will go about half way aroundthe pin; and if it is topped, it will travel about one quarter of thedistance around the pin.

It is thus possible for one to determine the proficiency of his drivesby the distance the ball travels around the pin after it has been hit bythe club employed.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing specification and particularly set forth in the subjoinedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of ourinvention, Figure 1 is a side view of the golf practice unit, showing itready for use. Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of said practice set.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the yoke and the hookconnection of said practice set. And Figure 4 is a cross sectional Viewtaken through the helical spring and guide therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of ourinvention, the numeral 1 designates a holding member such as the pin 1which is pointed at its lower end so that it may be easily driven intothe ground.

At its upper end the pin 1 is formed with an annular groove 2, toreceive the round portion of a yoke 3. (See Figures 2 and 3.)

The yoke 3 has two straight ends formed with registering slots toreceive the hook end 4 of a rod 5 having a flanged rear end 6.

Loosely fitted on the front end of the rod 5 is the cylindrical headportion 7 of a wire frame 8 which projects beyond the pin 5.

Surrounding the rod 5 between its flange 6 and the head 7 of the frame8, is a helical spring 9 against the tension of which the frame isadapted to be drawn outwardly along the rod.

The outer end of the wire frame 8 is formed in V shape to receive a ring10. To the latter one end of a chain 11 isse'cured. The other end ofthis chain is connectedto the hook end of aT shaped rod 12 embeddedwithin a golf ball 13. '7

When it is desired to use the practice set just described, the pin 1 isdriven vertically into the ground as shown in Figure 1. The ball 13 maythen be placed upon a tee 1 1 21 5 desired distance from the pin 1within the length of the chain 11. When the ball 18 is then hit by aclub such as the driver 14*, its normal flight will be limited by thechain. However, if the ball is so driven that it would follow a straightcourse, the ball will spin around the pin 1 several times. This is madepossible by the fact that the yoke 3 is free to turn around the groovedportion 2 of the pin.

If the ball is sliced, it will go approximately half-way around the pin;and when it is" topped, it will make but a quarter turn about the pin.

Thus it is possible, with our set, to test a golfers skill without theinconvenience of ,s0 going or sending after the ball when it is hit, orrunning the risk of losing it.

The ball will also yield with a certain amount of springiness to the onehitting it, since the wire frame 8, to which the chain 11, is secured,moves outwardly along the rod 5 against the tension of the spring 9.

It is thus seen that our practice set constitutes a simple, resilientand accurate means of testing a golfers skill without risk of losing oothe ball or the inconvenience of going or sending after it each time itis hit.

We do not wish to be limited to the details of construction andarrangement herein shown and described, and any changes 013modifications may be made therein within the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having described our invention, we claim 1. In a unit of the typedescribed, a pin, an annular element secured to said pin &I1(1 -,l00

free to revolve around it, a rod pivotally secured to the annularelement, a stop element on the outer end of said rod, a wire frameloosely fitted at its front end on said rod for a free movement alongit, a helical spring secured to said rod between said stop element andthe head of the frame, a chain secured to the outer end of the frame,and a golf ball secured to the chain.

2. In a unit of the type described, a pin formed with an annular groove,a yoke secured in said groove and free to revolve around the pin, a rodhaving a hook end secured to said yoke, a stop element on the other endof said rod, a wire frame loosely fitted at its front end on said rodfor a free movement along it, a helical spring secured to said rodbetween said stop element and the head of the frame, a chain secured tothe outer end of the frame, and a golf ball secured to said chain.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 29th day ofJune, 1928.

CHARLES EDGAR THRASHER. DAVID AFCOOPER.

